Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has urged journalists in Eldoret to embrace entrepreneurship and monetise their skills to address rising unemployment in the media sector.

The call was made during a media sensitisation training on retirement planning and pension reporting held at The Eldoret National Polytechnic. The training was organised by MCK in collaboration with the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA).

Journalists urged to take initiative

Speaking during the event, MCK Kisumu Regional Coordinator Teddy Evans, who represented the Director of Media Training and Development at MCK Victor Bwire, emphasised the need for journalists to take personal steps towards achieving their career goals.

“Let’s utilize the different skills that we have, and monetize your skills. The mainstream media cannot absorb all of us,” said Evans.

He noted that journalists should not rely solely on formal employment but instead explore alternative ways of earning a living through their skills.

Reality of a competitive media space

Evans pointed out that most media houses in Kenya are privately owned, with only Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) being state-owned, making the job market highly competitive.

He challenged journalists to diversify their income streams by tapping into areas such as digital content creation, freelancing, and media consultancy.

Call for curriculum review

With the growing number of students pursuing journalism and media-related courses, Evans said there is a need to review the training curriculum to align with the changing demands of the industry.

He noted that the evolving media landscape requires new skills and approaches, urging institutions to adapt in order to better prepare graduates for the realities of the job market.

The training also focused on financial planning, equipping journalists with knowledge on retirement and pension management as they navigate an increasingly dynamic media environment.